In the words of the Walter Brennan character on some Western or other, “No brag, just fact:”
4. My kid was too busy with EC’s to go through the entire book we spent $20 on, other than taking a few parts of a few of the tests, in the car on the way to the EC’s. 
I understand why people would be sensitive about something that seems like bragging.
My main point really is that people can be pressured by the practices in their home communities into spending money on test prep that their student may not need at all. It can be worrisome when it seems as though everyone else is paying for their kid to prep,
@QuantMech #124
Yes, the truth is I bought a $20 studyguide book for each kid, but the book barely got cracked opened. Ultimately that was wasted money, but I felt virtuous at the time buying the book.
What really did the trick were the FREE practice tests from the CB website. They took the practice tests timed, then reviewed their wrong answers.
I should have spent the 20 bucks on 4 lattes at Starbucks.
My kids cannot compete with your amazing kids.
My son was doing SAT prep for 6 month. I spent roughly 1.5k and he got 84k merit scholarship out of it. This buys many lattes. My daughter worked through the whole $20 blue book and she also took 6 full lengths timed practice tests. She got into her #1 school.
Spending time and money on SAT test prep is the best investment one can make.
I have to say, I just love the “This worked for me and my kids so it has to be right for everyone” hubris. 
Really, you people that are taking that line can’t even fathom what is wrong with that? Is it not enough to say what worked well for you without demeaning other people’s choices, without calling them “saps” (edited out by another mod)?
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
The OP has left the building, which is fine, since the question has validity beyond him. However, the last couple of pages have just been going around in circles. I can’t think of anything meaningful that is left to say. Closing thread.